Echinacea Plant Named &#39;BullEchipur 112&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant having a compact growth habit and large, yellow colored blooms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPat. Application No. 63/360,789, filed Oct. 28, 2021, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullEchipur 112’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Echinaceaplant known by the varietal name ‘BullEchipur 112’. The new variety wasdiscovered in August of 2020 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of aplanned breeding program with the purposes of providing Echinacea plantswith unique flower colors, a compact growth habit, increased branching,and more uniformity when compared to prior Echinacea plants. The newvariety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Echinaceapurpurea variety having an internal breeder’s reference of “Bul Mix2019-23” (female parent) and an unpatented Echinacea purpurea varietyhaving an internal breeder’s reference of “Bul Mix 2019-31” (maleparent) from the breeder’s own collection. The new variety was firstasexually reproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek,Germany in September of 2020. The new variety is similar to its parentalvarieties in botanical classification, but exhibits a more compactgrowth habit, larger flower size, and different flower color than bothof its parental varieties. Further, ‘BullEchipur 112’ exhibits betterbranching than its female parent and smaller leaves and earlierflowering than its male parent.

When ‘BullEchipur 112’ is compared to Echinacea purpurea variety named‘TNECHKY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP29,922, marketed as “KismetⓇ Yellow”),‘BullEchipur 112’ is similar to ‘TNECHKY’ in botanical classificationand flower color, but ‘BullEchipur 112’ exhibits a more compact growthhabit with increased branching and larger flowers that distinguish itfrom ‘TNECHKY’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish‘TNECHKY’ when generally compared to other Echinacea varieties known tothe breeder:

-   Yellow flower color;-   Large flowers;-   A compact and uniform growth habit;-   High branching;-   Fast crop time;-   Early flowering; and-   Small leaves.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive asexual propagations. The present invention has not beenevaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype ofthe plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety at 22weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible withcolor illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via invitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebeck, Germany. Plantsof the new variety were grown outdoors in 19 cm (3 liter) pots undernormal field production conditions, and the color readings andmeasurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 22 week oldplants in Gönnebeck, Germany. Color references are primarily to the 2015R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, SixthEdition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 19-20° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 40-50 days at approximately 18° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 12-14 weeks in a 19 cm container.-   Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots that are freely branching and    healthy in appearance.-   Plant height: 35.0-50.0 cm.-   Plant width: 25.0-30.0 cm.-   Habit: Upright, compact, and uniform growth with numerous branches.-   Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Nothing unusual noted to date.-   Drought tolerance: Average.-   Branches (flowering stems):    -   Number per plant.—10-20.    -   Length.—20.0-30.0 cm.    -   Diameter.—3.0-10.0 mm.    -   Internode length.—1.0-5.0 cm.    -   Angle.—Upright and outward.    -   Strength.—Strong.    -   Texture.—Pubescence present.    -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.-   Foliage:    -   Arrangement.—Single.    -   Leaf.—Length: 4.0-22.0 cm. Width: 1.0-5.0 cm. Shape: Lanceolate.        Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Entire.        Aspect: Straight to curved. Texture: Upper surface: Rough. Lower        surface: Rough. Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Close to        Green Group RHS 137B. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS        137C. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS        137B. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137C. Petiole:        None present. Veins: Venation type: Cross-venulate to        longitudinal. Color: Upper surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group        RHS 145A. Lower surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 145B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Bud:    -   Diameter.—1.0-3.5 cm.    -   Length.—1.3-2.0 cm.    -   Color.—Close to Green Group RHS N138A.-   Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc    florets.-   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from July-September in    Gönnebeck, Germany, beginning approximately 12-14 weeks after    planting.-   Average number of inflorescences per plant: 10-20.-   Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-3.-   Disc and ray floret arrangement: Disc florets are arranged in the    middle of the receptacle of the composite, single, freely flowering    plant, with ray florets extending outwardly therefrom.-   Fragrance: Unchanging.-   Inflorescence:    -   Diameter.—4.0-7.0 cm.    -   Height (depth).—2.0-3.5 cm.    -   Diameter of disc.—1.5-3.5 cm.    -   Receptacle height.—1.0 cm.    -   Receptacle diameter.—1.5-3.5 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   Number per inflorescence.—18-24.    -   Arrangement.—In two or three whorls.    -   Length.—2.0-4.2 cm.    -   Width.—1.2-1.8 cm.    -   Shape.—Elliptical.    -   Apex.—Obtuse.    -   Base.—Acute.    -   Margin Entire.    -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface:        Rough.    -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Close to Yellow-Orange Group        RHS 22A. Lower surface: Close to Yellow Group RHS 11A. At        maturity: Upper surface: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 21A.        Lower surface: Close to Yellow Group RHS 11A. Ground color        description: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A.    -   Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Same color        as the florets. Lower surface: Same color as the florets.-   Disc florets:    -   Number per inflorescence.—Numerous; too many to quantify.    -   Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.    -   Length.—8.0-15.0 mm.    -   Width.—1.0-2.0 mm.    -   Shape.—Tubular.    -   Apex.—Pointed.    -   Color.—Immature: Close to Green Group RHS 138A. At maturity:        Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A.-   Phyllaries:    -   Number per inflorescence.—40-50.    -   Arrangement.—In three to four whorls.    -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.    -   Width.—2.0-4.0 mm.    -   Shape.—Lanceolate.    -   Apex.—Elongated oval.    -   Base.—Fused.    -   Margin.—Entire.    -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough.    -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C.        Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C. At maturity:        Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C. Lower surface:        Close to Green Group RHS NN137C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   Androecium.—Presence:—.—On disc florets. Number (per        floret):—.—One. Filament length:—.—1.0-2.0 mm. Filament        color:—.—Light green. Anther:.—Shape:— Oval. Length:— 1.0 mm.        Color:— Light green. Pollen:.—Color: Close to Yellow-Orange        Group RHS 15B. Amount: Plentiful - too much to quantify.    -   Gynoecium.—Presence: In disc and ray florets. Pistil length:        1.0-2.0 mm. Stigma: Shape: Two-parted. Color: Light green.        Style: Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Light green.-   Seeds:    -   Overall size.—1.0-2.0 mm.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant named‘BullEchipur 112’, as is herein illustrated and described.